The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-25
SHERMAN IN THE SOUTH.
He Meets With an Enthusiastic Re-
ceptIon at Nashville, Tenn.
A Great Speech Devoted to National
Topics.
Good Advice, Which the Southerners
Should Heed.

nessee today by invitation. He was received
with much enthusiasm. The hall was crowd
ed. Among other things, he said, | accepted
the invitation of the Republican members of
the Legislature of Tennessee to address
them on this occasion, not so much with the
hope that could encourage them by an ex-
preston of the hearty sympathy of the Re-
publicans of the United States in their gal
liant struggle for Republican principles, as
from belief / entertain that fair present.
alton made to the people of Tennessee, with
out distinction of party, of the aims and
principles of our party, both in the past and
for the future, might induce them to join
with us in public policy that will contrib
ute to the interests of the people of Tennes-
see and of the whcle country, more and
greater benefits and advantages than can
possibly be conferred upon them by the
Democratic party.
have felt that the differences that grew
out OF the war now hold large body of the
honest and patriotic citizens of tile South
from cooperating with the Republican party,
who in my judgment, are now in sympathy
with us. have felt that perhaps, might
be able to dissipate these prejudices by a
frank statement of the views which have ac-
tuated the Republican party in the past, and
thus bring us into cooperation in measures
tending TO advance the common interests
and prosperity of our country. State rights,
as distinguished from national authority, has
been disturbing element OF American poll
ties. II l understand the principles of the
Republican party, would say they are elm
braced in a trinity of Union, constitution
ana country; preservation of the Union {;
maintenance of the full powers of the con-
stitution, and the growth, prosperity and
it is now or is to be. These ideas we inherit
from the wisest statesmen in American
history. and now since they have been re-
affirmed by the war there is nothing to divide
American. citizens by sectional lines but pre-
Judlce and passion.
Senator Sherman then spoke of the part
that slavery had played in bringing on the
war and the stand that Tennessee took dur
ing the war. Continuing, he said: "Think
not that come to reprOach any man for the
part he took in that fight, or to revive in the
heart OF any one the triumph of victory or
the pangs of defeat. / do not come to make
apologies, nor do | ask any of you. The
war was perhaps unavoidable, bound to
come some time, and the sooner ended the
better. All that claim is that the Republi-
can party was not actuated by spirit of
nate, or conquest, or revenge, but only by a
fervent love of the union and determined
purpose to maintain the constitution as they
understand it. No man in the North ques-
tlons the honesty of purpose or heroism
with which the Confederates maintained
courage and honorable motives to Che Union
soldiers North and South. When the war
was over the people of the North heartily
applauded the generous terms granted by
General Grant to General Lee, and the Con-
fedeTate troops and wished that the people
of the South should be restored to all their
rights and privileges, subject only to such
conditions as honor and good faith seemed
to demand, arising out of the proclamation
OF President Lincoln for the emancipation
Of slaves. Both sides felt that the abolition
OF slayery was the necessary result of the
war, and it seemed TO us that if the slaves
were TO be free they must be armed with the
privileges of freemen, and these were Sc
cured to them by constitutional amend
ments. The attempt to enforce these
rights by the snational authorities has
it is conceded that under the limita-
tions of the Constitution the rights of a citi-
zen OF State can only be enforced through
the State or national tribunals, and where
public opinion is intolerant and jurors will
not DO their duty. a citizen, either white
or black, may be without remedy for the
grossest wrong, except the right to migrate
to where his rights will be respected. Our
institutions are based upon the idea that
such denial of rights is impossible, and
trust that the time is not far distant when
the people of every State will feel it to be
both. just and expedient that every citizen of
the State shall be protected in free and
equal enjoyment Of every right and prlvl-
lege conferred by the Constitution of the
United States The Republican party is
pledged to this policy, and though it will use
no unconstitutional means to secure rights,
it would be false to its principles, if it does
not usesall its moral and legal power to that
end. No wrong can be done to the humblest
citizen, and no right withheld without react
ing upon the community at large.
was glad to hear in passing through sew
eral of the Southern States, conservative
citizens say that public sentiment now re.
volts at unlawful methods&o defeat the free
exercise of equal rights to citizens that have
been adopted in several States, and are still
practiced in what are known as the black
counties of the South. As long as such
methods are reSorted to there will be keen
sense OF wrong and injustice to the Injured
parties, and those who practice such Of
fences will in the end suffer for it, Sectional
feeling will continue to last as long as the
large masses of people, whether poor OF
rich, white or black. are denied
their rights to hare in seh-government
1t sets bad example which the criminal
classes in the North have in some cases eag-
erly adopted to cheat at elections as in Gin
cinnati two years ago. 1t also produces inc
quality of representation between the North
and South, and this keeps up sectional lines
in party politics. 1t open the way to corrup.
tion and fraud which in time destroys all
pretense of Republican government
sAS AeAi NAiJSJ hiSAe VI .oheo
will divide between parties as other citizens
do, and his labor will become great factor
in the wealth and prosperity of the region in
which he lives 1t has now contributed its
full share in building up with marvellous
rapidity a region have recently traversed
and will be of infinitely more value South
than needless and listless labor of slaves in
the olden times. Win these people by kind
ness and just regard to their constitutions
rights, and they will vote with you and dc
their full share to make the South rich, pros
porous and happy.
also wish ito express in the strongest
language my admiration and respect for the
vim and energy with which the South is
graphing with the new condition of labor
and the industry by which they are sur
rounded, and the confident belief that within
a single generation your people will be NOR,
than repaid for the value of their slaves by
the results Of the diversified industry ant
subdivision of land. The time will come
and it seems now near at hand, when yoI
and your children will rejoice not only tina
the slaves are free, but that the Union ha
been preserved and strengthened.
Mr.. Sherman devoted the remainder of hi.
speech to the tariff, currency, internal i'm
provenents, and schools, speaking at grea
length and closing with a glowing tribut
| to the Republican party.